RICE HUSK FOR PLANTS & SOIL WHY ARE RICE HUSKS VALUABLE TO A POTTING SOIL MIX? | Gardening in Canada

RICE HUSK SOIL AMENDMENT. WHY ARE RICE HUSKS VALUABLE TO A POTTING SOIL MIX? In this gardening in Canada video we are looking at rice husks for a soil amendment. Rice husks are used as a soil amendment for both gardens and potting soil mixes. Rice husks are high in silica and add to the overall drainage of the soil.
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[@lesgadd09]

Every time I find myself asking the deeper questions about indoor gardening, I find myself clicking on your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoyed I’m thoroughly intrigued by this soil amendment and can see it as a great additive.

[@lunacycalico4017]

I live in tropical climate (Indonesia). I always use carbonized (burned) rice husk for garden & potting mix (indoor/outdoor). Its great amandement and all plants are happy.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Nice!

[@izzuandydidieyusop5227]

Your channel is so informative and i think people should stop sleeping on this kind of contents..you deserve more recognition for your work.. Love from Malaysia 🇲🇾

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you so much! Maybe one day 🤷🏼‍♀️your comment on all my videos really truly help! I truly appreciate it.

[@tantrictami]

I am building a house in Costa Rica and we are using rice hulls instead of hemp with concrete. It's called bagacreto. It breathes and inhibits mold which is super important in the tropics. (Ric and hemp are mixed with lime.). it almost cures and turns back into limestone, but the rice hulls are translucent and beautiful.

[@GardeningInCanada]

very interesting!

[@Egghed545]

Its so hard for me to find good quality knowledge filled videos on stuff like this. Thank you!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks so much! That’s a huge compliment I truly appreciate it.

[@dorarampadora4259]

I live in the Philippines and rice hull is commonly used as a potting medium. It holds moisture but once it dries, it really is dry and takes a lot of water to moisten it. Im trying to use it as mulch my vegetable bed. So far so good :)

[@GardeningInCanada]

Nicen

[@edna7748]

I can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge!!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad it was helpful!

[@julicaru4812]

Loving the amendments series, very interesting. Many of the amendments you have covered I have not used and some I’d not even heard that you could use, so , yeah , learning heaps , not just it is so, but why it is so too ( love the sciency bits ) ! All the best Jules

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you so much I’m glad your enjoying! 🙂

[@chrislahti4687]

I started using rice husks last year and another place to find them is at a Brewers Supply store. I go there for the husks and Malted Barley as well.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh now that’s super useful info! Very interesting

[@serenasztein5065]

Thank you, learning a lot !

[@prolandeguzman4831]

Love your videos! Sending love all the way from the Philippines!🇵🇭

[@GardeningInCanada]

Hey!!! That’s awesome! I have to visit there when covid ends I would love to tour all your nurseries

[@cadgon7289]

Hi, Ashley! I have a feeling you'd enjoy going for a hike in places like Masungi Georeserve (plenty of endemic plants and animals) and for walks in different botanical gardens in the country. Various marine flora in the seas as well!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh my 🤤 I’m drooling just thinking about the idea of a hike there 🥰

[@prolandeguzman4831]

@@GardeningInCanada you should! Check out palawan, siargao, boracay, cebu and bohol! More power! Keep rockin'!

[@GardeningInCanada]

❤️❤️❤️

[@Passionproject100]

I’ve been using it for clay soil in 9b. you do have to use a lot of it but it is very inexpensive. 10$ for 50lb! that’s cheapest ever. I love how it feels if you stand on it. It’s soft on your feet. I put a ton down where my dogs chase the fence (neighbor dogs) and I am going to make a sand box (for digging) for my dogs and I’m going to use this stuff.

[@GardeningInCanada]

thats amazing! use it up

[@carlandrews5810]

Was thinking of using those along with home-made bio char in a potting mix. I grow cactus outdoors in Maine USA in the summer and it's been so incredibly rainy this year.

[@carldaniels4827]

One thing i've always done after soaking or washing the grains, beans is to give the liquid back to the soil instead of pouring down the drain. i believe this to be very beneficial, especially during the winter months.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea that’s always a good idea!

[@masrurbule2868]

Very informative 👏, love these more scientific videos about gardening. Where I live these rice husk are abundance and I would love to know more about rice husk related products such as carbonized rice husk, rice husk ash, and how to decompose it effectively.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed it! Be sure to share

[@michellesoeller3563]

I use it for drainage and aeration. In South East Asia during the long monsoon season, there is so much rain, and soil compacts a lot due to the intensity of the rainfall. And if the soil is constantly saturated and there is no oxygen, in my experience the roots start rotting, even if there is no actual water logging. When I buy vegetable plans or herbs from the nursery here, they are often grown in 80% rice husk and maybe 20% heavy clay soil. I assume they are heavily fertilized to get them to grow though, which isn’t great. I am currently going with 2/3 local potting mix, and 1/3 rice husks and only organic fertilizers. But still need to fine tune that ratio. Some people here also use peanut husks for drainage and aeration. But when I tried those, they attracted silly amounts of bugs who wanted to eat the husks (and my plants). Worst thing to add to soil here is coco coir. The soil mixes I made here last year that included coco coir killed all my vegetable and herb plants. Too much moisture retention.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Very good post! Thank you for this

[@MalaysianTropikfusion]

True. 100% coconut coir just doesn't work for many plants in Southeast Asia.

[@Kiwalabyetimothyshsh]

From Uganda Just setting up my garden

[@erickarc]

Great video! In my place, we have lots of rice husk around and we can take it for almost free. Usually, we carbonized it before applying (in some case, it might attract fungal diseases if we use the raw ones), and use it as great substitute of charcoal and perlite. The result is amazing!

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s awesome!

[@charlottejaustin6127]

@@GardeningInCanada If RH is burned, wouldn't this have the same drawbacks of biochar when added directly to a planting mix, meaning it would be considered very alkalinizing? This would be a drawback for fruit bearing plants that prefer slight acidity - e.g. tomatoes - or the pH neutral that many north american veggies prefer. I am wondering if carbonized RH is commonly used in the tropics to counter acidity but not so suitable in mid-latitudes -- or at least not for veggie raised beds or containers -- so more rare in our market? ++cj

[@GardeningInCanada]

It would have very similar drawbacks that’s is correct. It’s likely the purpose of it for other climates goes back to that exact reason. I wouldn’t say definitively that it is bad for other climates because there are plenty of different soil pHs all over the world.

[@julientobyfullmer7230]

What's your process to carbonize it? (How do you bur it without turning it to ash? ) I would need to acidify the biochar afterwards because my soils are very alkaline....🤔

[@annieanna2900]

Thanks a lot!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Norbingel]

I can get my hands on quite a bit of this stuff (farmers around basically ignore it) but my concern is the chemicals (herbicides, pesticides) that they spray on it. Mostly, those who do use it use a carbonized (biochar type thing) version of it.

[@kristinbrowning-mezel2379]

Great video- very helpful! I am experimenting with it in seed starting for gardening. Sounds like we could make the assumption that it would be potentially useful in the development of strong plant cells as well as a bit of aeration and water retention? I'm also using it as a mulch inside the greenhouse where a fan is the only wind :0)

[@Feherlang]

I'll definitely try rice husk, I've never thought about it being used this way. (By the way, bamboo leaves are rich in silica, too, so it's worth a try using it as mulch for this reason)

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea especially if you have access to it! I know I people in BC have the ability to grow bamboo.

[@Feherlang]

​@@GardeningInCanada Yeah, there are some species hardy down to hardiness zone 4b with occasional dieback, like some Fargesia sp. Jiuzhaigou cultivars (for example Deep Purple B2) the bamboo roots are always at least 10 degrees hardier, and you can easily use mulch

[@GardeningInCanada]

If I was rich I’d honestly have an atrium with multiple climates in different room 😂

[@tantrictami]

Silica is great to add to high nitrogen content like tithonia or chicken droppings it would be a very balanced compost. IMO

[@GardeningInCanada]

absolutely

[@judyguevara9771]

Hi Ashley, I actually use it in my soil, planting herbs. The local gardening channel gave a mix: 1part garden soil, 1 part CRH or rice husks ( carbonised rice husk, that’s what they call burnt rice husk) and 1 part vermicast. Most commercial nurseries always have rice husks in their potting mix here in the Philippines because it’s cheap and available. Probably like what you said it’s used for aeration? Thank you for your videos!

[@GardeningInCanada]

yes 100% aeration. and because it’s so accessible to you it makes a lot of sense to use

[@dixie2881]

I just started using rice husks, my Peperomia, and tradescantia are happy in it. I haven’t used it with any other plant.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s awesome

[@niwasj2214]

Hi Ashley , your videos are very informativeand more scientific I found .. great learning.. . I'm from sri lanka and it's been heavily used but carbonized .ie controlled burnt product.. what they say apart from all the favorable physical properties and silica, ir has a higher capacity to hold micro nutrients so that minimize the depletion and releasing at slow phase.. I wonder what's the scientific base for this...? Thank you so much for your wonderful work..

[@bulldogbrett747]

Thank you for a very informative video , you have touched on a topic that i have been looking at for a bit .. I have been looking at adding Rice Husks to my soil for my young Durian Fruit trees located in N.E Thailand . i was looking for it as an added organic fertiliser on top of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium type fertilizers used at different stages of the Durian trees cycles which are available in the local area. My tress are just over 1 year old & i have 120 off them. Your thoughts on adding this .. ( I was hoping for a slight soil advantage especially the dry season )

[@mahmunachhakchhuak2304]

Love your video from India

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you so much 😀

[@petermaxmann2126]

thank you

[@mjsoskie]

Hola, thank u so much for this video. Im in zone 9b in central florida. Currently using coco coir, worm castings and pumice for my indoor plants. Im gonna start adding coco chips to the mix too. Not sure yet about the Rice hull. I heard a nursery owner from this area said that he uses that as an amendment so I wanted to learn more.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea so if it’s greenhouse settling it maybe for mulching the pots. I’d ask.

[@bethrivera867]

I'm in the same zone! Has that mixture been working well for you? I'm having trouble with root rot. And what nursery was that? I've been looking for local nurseries

[@chickenjohnny3308]

I first heard of this this past fall. Was thinking it may be useful in a seed start mix. After listening to you I will not try it, I thought it would work more like coconut choir. Have you done a seed start mix lesson? I would be interested in your views.

[@GardeningInCanada]

no I haven’t but I definitely will! that’s a great idea

[@Bons_Eye]

Hmmm....interesting. Those in the cities could get husks from a Brewing company. I recall seeing this sold in 1lb bags for about $2. 50lbs is around $30 Toronto: Zone 6B

[@GardeningInCanada]

1lb bags would be so nice for an indoor setup!

[@julientobyfullmer7230]

I just bought 6cf bags in AZ at a feed store used as horse bedding for $12....

[@mostviralvidsonthenet]

Question: Is rice bran good for my plants specifically for philodendrons? I want to use it mainly as my soil with a little mixture of soil and withered grass.

[@trollforge]

"Hydroponic Gardening and More with Brent" gets it delivered by the dump-truck load and has been using it for years as his soil-less medium for rooting plants in. IIRC he has stated that it does not affect pH.

[@GardeningInCanada]

is he usually it on it’s own in a hydroponic system?

[@trollforge]

@@GardeningInCanada yes.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That makes sense then. It would work great in that scenario

[@C3Voyage]

Funny. Just found this. I started off using composted/aged rice hulls (CRH) in 2014 IIRC. The first batches were quite broken down and used them by themselves. Pickup load for $30. Worked great as a neutral hydro medium. The later batches out of Stuttgart, Arkansas have been less aged. I think nurseries here have figured it out, and to keep them as a product for sale, so the really aged stuff isn't available anymore. I had 18 tons dumped 3 years ago and have been mixing it with peat now that it's aged more. Seems to work great for the containers. In Jonesboro, Arkansas, we can buy bales of par-boiled rice hulls PBH. The process makes the hulls usable as a perlite replacement, but I wouldn't use more than 25% in a mix as it can cause problems. PBH works great as a mulch as well for containers in a greenhouse with little wind. There are a few greenhouses that will use PBH-only that has been primed with water-soluble nutrients before planting. I spoke to one in Missouri who swears by PBH. I went wild one year and mixed 25% PBH with 75% CRH and time-traveled into the past. :O) Don't do it. My CRH in containers last for many years. It seems to only get better with age. Anyway, hulls are easy to get in Arkansas inexpensively so why not use them.

[@trollforge]

@@C3Voyage Awesome, Thanks Brent!

[@sabhindi]

Beautiful video. Which is better a normal rice husk or burnt rice husk for terrace gardening.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you! Burnt is more bioavailable off the hop

[@MrTeenStyle]

I've bee using it as a filler for a few months. It's nice! Adds some fluff and visual texture. Although... Quite often it will start to sprout and grow :S I guess the bag I got was more alive than dead. Should I be removing them if they sprout under the soil? I use plastic cups, so I can see them sprouting roots and growing.

[@GardeningInCanada]

No I think that it should be fine. But run experiments and see what works best for you.

[@journeytopeace]

I couldn't find information about this anywhere. Could I use spelt/spelled husk instead of rice husk inside my planting soil? Does it perform the same way?

[@bigcheesedog2645]

Just started playing with rice hulls mostly as a mulch and it does seem to help with moisture retention with cannabis in a grow tent. On the last run, I had a happy accident, I had used some of my first worm compost and ended up with worms in my pots and at the end of the run they were still alive and kicking so I decided to reuse that soil with the worms in them . I added my normal-dry amendments as a top dress my theory is that as the worms do their work I could end up with liberated silica eventually. I did throw a whole bunch into the worm bin so we will see how long they stay intact but I expect that at least some silica will end up liberated in the compost. Here is an odd question could wheat bran be used in the same sort of fashion though not bringing silica but maybe B vitamins another sexy bio-stimulant. if you just want to try and don't need a big bag you can get rice hulls at homebrew stores.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s Good question I’ll have to actually look into that and see if any research has been done. I don’t have an answer on that one

[@endgamefond]

I am planning to use burnt rice husk for my top garden soil. I read it's dangerous for lung. Is it true? Which one is safer?

[@naveedijaz]

Hi, i have Rice Husk in powder form, can i use it?

[@asutosh501]

Mam garbera plant growing in rice husk.

[@reynaldoabio7787]

It's more technical so it looks or sound complicated for a simple person like me. It's easier to get the point if it's simple and precise.

[@GardeningInCanada]

TikTok might be a petty platform

[@ringomamangon2559]

Hi, here in the Philippines some people use it in cactus and succulent mix but it is recommended that people use it after it has been burned and turned to ash. Dose it affect any of the things you have mention in your video ?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea so that makes I act more like a biochar type amendment

[@CobyMcConnell]

Do you have any feelings about burnt rice hulls?

[@bibimahira]

Could i use it in succulent & cactus, quite afraid it hold a lot of water and take abit of time to fully dry out

[@GardeningInCanada]

It dries out relatively quickly

[@rajutoppo7420]

Love from india

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thank you 🙏

[@justicepeacekeeper1912]

what about nitrogen deficiency caused by high carbon content in c:n ration in rice husk?

[@dymondwillow2]

good video...

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoyed! How have you been?! I’m happy you finally found me on Facebook 😂 still irritated that it has to be called garden in Canada

[@dymondwillow2]

@@GardeningInCanada ...this season is the hardest for a senior such as I. You were spot-on about the ability to care for (or not) plants when one feels blue. I would like to figure out an easy way to grow green stuff to eat during the winter. I keep meaning to grab my camera to film stuff, but i am not comfortable doing so... Why "Garden in Canada"? I forgot to check if there was a similar name. and if i grew such stuff, could i also make some $ doing so? Cheers! make it a great day.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea! Have you tried the idea of micogreens? It’s an easy, cheap & sellable indoor vegetable garden concept.

[@dymondwillow2]

@@GardeningInCanada ...but your Facebook is now Gardening in Canada, yes? With you wrapped in a Canadian flag....

[@juliuswijaya2926]

Hello, i was wondering if you ever heard or used the carbonized rice husks. i've recently visited south east asian countries and they all seem to be using that instead of coco coir and other stuff

[@GardeningInCanada]

I honestly haven’t even heard of that before! Interesting I’ll have to look into it

[@lunacycalico4017]

I live in tropical climate (Indonesia). I always use carbonized (burned) rice husk for garden & potting mix (indoor/outdoor). Its great amandement and all plants are happy.

[@davecunningham352]

The rice hulls were from white rice is that correct ? i live in northern Sask and we have a Wild rice processing plant here ! Would the hulls from the processing of wild rice be the same composition as white rice hulls ! I can/could probably get semi loads of these hulls for nothing as they are building up year after year and never used for anything !

[@robertwingate2446]

Hope you tried using the wild rice husks.. I have not looked at it being I can not get it.. but would use it or at least do plants and compost piles , experimenting...

[@Cynical1800]

What are your thoughts on carbonized rice hulls?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I’ve never even heard of that before could you send me a link?

[@Cynical1800]

@@GardeningInCanada kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGrFnWaPoZiAeM0 Turning it to biochar.

[@thelees-livinginhislight]

How would this work as bedding in a chicken coop ?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Very nicely! If you can get it for cheap go for it.

[@Bol61191]

I think its great for bedding in chicken coop. When you rice husk mix up with chicken manure, it acttract kind of fungi look like mycorrhizal fungi. It create fungal hyphae network. Thats help to increase nutrition exchange in the rootzone and defense from pathogen. I mix up this rice husk bedding with coconut husk chip and put around rootzone of kind of scrub plant. Ít works very well. Plants look very healthy, grow fast, having so many flowers. I think you could try for your plants

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

The only problem I would have with it is that farms want to sell it to put in other people's soil instead of digging it back into their own soil. That sounds like a silly concern, but a lot of grains, plants from the grass family make allellopathic chemicals that hinder other plants in favor of grass.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea it’s very true!

[@IvanLing]

do make a video on burnt rice husk and zeolite

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea absolutely!

[@IvanLing]

@@GardeningInCanada these products have been avail in the Asian markets for much longer. Just wondering if they offer better properties over the more commonly talked abt perlite

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea absolutely I could do the zeolite video in particular as a comparison to perlite.

[@yoriichi3347]

Can i use this as mulching?.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Absolutely

[@amessnger]

It is a great mulch for me.

[@TahirKhan-cu6fd]

Can I make poting mix of rice hulls? I think rice hulls is Carbon rich n will cause nitrogen deficiency. Kindly guide me

[@GardeningInCanada]

They can yes. I wouldn’t do it, it’s moreso for top dressing to retain moisture. If the hulls are aged for a year or more you can no issues

[@TahirKhan-cu6fd]

@@GardeningInCanada Ok, Thanks

[@GardeningInCanada]

Anytime!

[@julientobyfullmer7230]

Thank you. Interesting. You might find Dr. Jorge Fletchas lecture (KZbin) on human needs for silica interesting....

[@GardeningInCanada]

I will check it out

[@julientobyfullmer7230]

I am disappointed.,.I am in Yuma and bought this as a perlite replacement in my homemade potting mix... perlite is not easily found product and more expensive... Suggestions for potting mix in a hot very alkaline climate?

[@GardeningInCanada]

do you have access to pumic or volcanic rock

[@julientobyfullmer7230]

@@GardeningInCanada I don't know, will try to look

[@0.2jayan]

Rice husks are better fermented before use

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh that’s interesting 🤔

[@azamaneysaruji3969]

any link to explore

[@kokyencheong1804]

How u fermented it?

[@albert00782]

Too much talking

[@pinakibhome3075]

impossible to watch .... bla bla bla....

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for the kind words! 😊 world needs more of it